How to Obtain Service Medals

The following question was asked of Dr. Rostker
by a veteran recently. Dr. Rostker asked GulfLINK to post the response.

Title: Where Can I Get Information on Medals for Service
in the 1990-1991 Gulf War?

Three medals were awarded for service in the 1990-1991 Gulf
War:

Southwest Asia Service Medal: For service in Southwest
Asia and contiguous waters or air space thereover from August 2,
1990, until a date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense.

Kuwait Liberation Medal: Awarded by the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia for direct participation in Operation Desert Storm
between January 17, 1991, and February 28, 1991.

Kuwait Liberation Medal: In addition to the Kuwait
Liberation Medal previously accepted from the government of Saudi
Arabia, the U.S. government has also accepted the Kuwait Liberation
Medal (K) from the government of Kuwait for participation in Desert
Storm / Desert Shield from August 2, 1990, to August 31, 1993.

The Army is still processing unit citations. The Military
Awards Branch expects to complete its work in two years. At that
time, the DA pamphlet "Unit Citation and Campaign Participation
Credit Register" (DA PAM 672-3, dated 29 January 1988) will
be reissued.

Veterans of service in the 1990-1991 Gulf War who are still
on active duty or in the active reserve should contact their
personnel officer for information about these medals; about other
citations, ribbons or decorations earned by their unit; and about
their eligibility for individual awards.

Veterans who have been discharged, retired or who
are no longer affiliated with active service and wish to request
issuance or replacement of their medals or awards may write to:

State your request and provide a copy (NEVER an original)
of the following forms:

your orders to Desert Shield / Desert Storm and

your release from active duty (DD Form 214, "Report of
Separation").

If you do not have these forms, provide the following
information:

Full name under which service was performed,

Service number and/or Social Security number,

Branch of service,

Dates of service,

Date and place of birth,

Grade or rank at time of separation/retirement, and

Signature and date of request

Family members may only request medals and awards
of living veterans by obtaining their signed authorizations. For
deceased veterans, requests will be accepted from next-of-kin.

There is a delay of up to one year after release from
active service before a military service members records are
received by the National Personnel Records Center. Further, due
to a combination of high volume of requests and recent staff reductions,
there is a delay in responding. Thus, on average, GulfLINK has been
advised that it takes about 18 months now to process a request.

To request information from military service records,
the National Personnel Records Center recommends you use the Standard
Form 180, "Request Pertaining to Military Records." By
law, records can only be released to an individual or his/her next
of kin.

Some additional information for the different services
is provided below.

U.S. Army

Department of the Army (DA) publishes General Orders
on approved awards for units, including those serving in Desert
Shield / Desert Storm, on a yearly basis. Determinations on some
awards are still pending. The DA General Orders are distributed
to every Army installation and maintained in their MOS libraries.
Veterans may also contact any installation's personnel officer.

Veterans who have been discharged or retired and need
copies of their records can call the Army Reserve Personnel Center
at 314-538-4261. A recorded message advises you that all requests
must be made in writing. (Note: the recorded message also explains
what to do if you are calling about a medical emergency.)

U.S. Marine Corps

For questions concerning policy on awards and decorations,
call the SECNAV Awards Board at (202) 685-6530.

A veteran in inactive reserves (meaning that you are
still affiliated with the Marine Corps) can request a copy of his
or her record by writing to: